Chapter 4

ZERA

  It's cold. Maybe it's good to have coffee here. I don't understand the two people in my house, especially that man.

  I felt that my burden became heavier when I met them but at the same time I felt sorry for them.

 The weather is cold today, maybe there is a storm.

   I'm at work even if it's raining, the student still going to school despite of heavy rain. That's the way it is, they spend when it's sunny and then when it rains then they have school, they're really strong right.

   "Zera, just serve it to those students," Aling Nena said to me before handing the dish and some rice for the table that the old woman was pointing at.

   I walked closer to them and that's where I served their food before I returned to the front.

   A few hours later I was observing the customers. This is how hard life is here, it's hard to find money.

   "Zera someone is calling you," Mina said to me before she reached for my cellphone. Maybe she heard so I just took it before checking who called.

   "I'll answer it outside first," I said, before I walked out of the cafeteria and after that I answered the call.

   "Mara," I whispered. I know my every move is being watched. I must not be careless.

   "Zera, still nothing,

 I found about your brother but you need to come back here we will find a way when I'm with you," she said. I clenched my fist when I heard. How long..

   "Mara, you don't understand me, I just have to stay here because that's what I was told my brother can come back there too, I'm sorry," I said. My tears seemed to want to fall from what I was hearing.

   "Zera, why are you being stubborn. Are you thinking that person will bring your brother back because of what you're doing?! You're not alone, I'm here with you, I will help you no matter what! " It screamed. Little by little my tears fell. Honestly, I also miss the days when I was with them, days when I didn't have to earn a living to eat. Days when I don't have to wake up early to think about what will happen to me the next day.

   "I don't want to drag you into this mess Mara please, I share that topic because I trusted you and please stop finding my brother in your own way, I'm doing what's the best for all of us." I don't want to release every sob I've been holding back. I'm strong, that's what my parents said, I won't be defeated by anyone who makes me cry.

   I just can't fully imagine what happened. I suddenly woke up in this situation, I suddenly woke up without my dearest person who I depended on in life. I'm just a black sheep of our family but he's standing there for me. I won't let anyone hurt him because of my doings.

   I pressed the end call because I couldn't hear from her anymore. I violently wiped the prediction from my eyes before taking a deep breath. You can do it, Zera. You'll get used to it too.

   I was about to go in but three men bumped into me outside. I sat down on the road before I turned a bad look at them, they were all gone.

   I was about to go in when I stood up but I was stopped by Mina rushing out.

   "What happened?" I asked her, I was worried.

   "That guys haven't paid yet. This will make me Mrs. Santos mad," she said. I suddenly handed the tray I was holding earlier to her and quickly ran away. I heard her scream but I didn't pay attention to her because I had to chase those men. By chance, we sympathize here, especially since I feed someone at home, my salary cannot be reduced.

   I was running in a hurry but suddenly I fell to the floor without realizing it at the same time as I looked up to see who it was who bumped into me and my eyes widened as I looked at him.

   "What are you doing here! Didn't I tell you to be there first!" I shouted at them. I also don't want other people to see the princess, if he tells her that the girl with him is a princess, I will be embarrassed if it happens.

   I noticed that he was wearing different clothes, because I also bought him clothes. He'll be funny if he goes out dressed like that and maybe by chance I'll take this guy to the salon to get his hair cut too, he have a long hair but he still look good from it but because I want to do what I want I will force him cute his hair.

   The woman held out her hand for me and I reached for it, I was about to smile but the shameless man patted my hand so I couldn't do anything but give him a bad look.

   "Wait! I forgot those men haven't paid yet we won't have anything to eat of we couldn't make them pay." The man's eyes seemed to sharpen at what I said. Why?

 He quickly turned around and saw the men who were already far away.

   "I'll be back" he said before leaving. My eyes widened as I shifted my gaze to the woman for a moment while looking at the man earlier but he was gone.

   "W-what don't you say that man has powers too?" The girl look confuse but she before shaking her head..

   "No, the mens in our kingdom are really just trained to be fast at everything," she said. I swallowed, they've been practicing that for years but I'm not convinced by what she said.

   "Are you okay? You're not hurt?" She asked me so I quickly shook my head but deep inside I wanted to complain about what her colleague did. That shameless man keep my blood boiled.

   The two of us stayed silent on one side as we waited for the man but less than a few minutes after he left I noticed that he immediately walked towards us while holding the money but he was staring at it as if he had just seen something like that.

   "How did you get it from them?" I asked, because the speed as if he was just one of those pimps gave him the payment immediately.

   "I don't know, they just gave it to me when I told them that they had to pay you. What is that paper, don't you have any gold in it?" He asked me gaping. I don't know how I can live with these people, but wait, they're not human, are they?

   "Money. This is what you need to buy clothes and food ok? Get it?" I will explain. They both just shook their heads.

   "Let it go, by the way t-thank you," I said while looking away. It's a good thing he's here, otherwise I might not know what's going to happen.

   He didn't answer me but kept frowning, while the girl was smiling.

   "By the way I don't know your name yet." I turned to the girl.

   "I'm Sera," she said. I swallowed thickly.

   "Really?! My name is Zera too, I'm Nezerra," I said. I was about to extend my hand but his companion glared at me. This man is very rude, maybe he doesn't have a partner in their world, so he acts like that, right? I also believe in their nonsense, but nothing bad will happen if I believe it, so it's up to them.

   "Are you hungry? I'll buy you at the cafeteria," I said before walking. The two followed me silently.

   When we entered the cafeteria, the customers were already quiet so I pointed to the table and went straight to the counter.

 After that I serve them something to eat and come back to my work.

 "Zera who are they?" Mina asked. Both of us are in the front. We'll be serving food while the other is on the kitchen, cooking and some of them washing the dishes.

 "A-ahhhh my sister and his h-husband," I said while shuttering. I don't know what I'm going to say, I can't say that I just saw them yesterday and let them them stay at my apartment especially those two are very weird.

 "It's been said that both of you are sister, you're both beautiful, you know, I can only imagine that you're one of the children of a very rich person in our country." I swallowed what she said. She's not wrong in what she said, that's the case but not anymore.

 "Please help us find our son." My hair fluttered and seemed to focus on my position when I heard that voice, I slowly turned to the t.v and my guessed was right who it was.

 My mom and dad in front of many reporters.

 "What happened to him?" The reporters asked. I know they already sent someone to look for at Eijii but since it's taking too long they want to call at media.

 "He has been missing since a month ago, we received a letter saying that someone has taken our son and worse, he can kill him at any time," said my father. His speech and voice were calm while my mother kept crying by his side. I can't bear to see them like that, it hurts me.

  If I was there next to them, would I make them feel better?

 "Then what about your daughter? Is she also lost?" He asked, I smiled bitterly..

 My mother stopped crying while my father's expression changed and it seemed that his eyes suddenly lit up.

 "The letter said the one who will kill our son is also our daughter." My jaw dropped when I heard that and I almost lost my balance but I immediately grabbed the table and supported myself.

 With every move, I don't realize that there are tears in my eyes as I savor the bitterness of the truth.

 "Lowly girl, why are you crying there? Give me some more food." Someone who caught my attention. I sniffed as I quickly raised my hand to wipe the tears that welled up in my eyes.

 "That's enough. I'm going to pay a lot just because of your stomach," I said to him just to make him frown but didn't say anything I sighed before taking his plate from the him before I put the dish. It turned out that Mina wasn't by my side a while ago, she was already serving at the table, it's a good thing she didn't see what happened earlier..

 "They're really bad, aren't they? Isn't jealousy what they come from. That's the problem with the rich family." My feelings were weighed down by what I heard at the other table. Even they heard what was on t.v.

 After I gave Gavin something to eat, he returned to the chair and they both ate. I just sighed before returning my attention to work.

 When they got home, Gavin and Sera were gone and they both returned. But I wonder why they know the way.

 All the work is finished and I'm going home because it's already late.

 Because I even passed by Mrs. Santos to tell her that I have someone to stay with. At first she was suspicious but later she just let me and the two of us talked for a long time until I reached 12. I'm not nervous that the two of them have already eaten because I gave them rice and a side dish earlier before they left, I bought them also that they should not eat it until nightfall. Mrs. Santos also brought me the light because she immediately felt sorry for me because she has no children and is still separated from her husband. I won't be surprised if she's hot-headed too.

 "Sera?" I called as I entered the door, but I stopped calling when I noticed that he was sleeping upstairs. He was sitting there while I was on the ground and Gavin was on the floor. I would have been on top so they could be closer but Gavin said that was blasphemy.

 But where is Gavin? Oh,what if he gets into a fight outside? There are still a lot of people hanging out there!

 I hurried out and circled the front of the apartment but I was afraid to go far because I'm alone. I was just standing straight at the door but something caught my attention when I heard a rustle from the side of the apartment.

 The part of my room is at the end where there is a path going down with many woods, I don't know whose land it is but it is really wide.

 I was nervous but I slowly walked closer. I can feel my cold sweat on my forehead and on my palm. I sat down and peered into the plant where I heard the rustling but saw nothing.

 I breathed a sigh of relief, it looks like I just thought it was but my calm didn't last long I was stunned when I felt the fast breathing of the air on me from someone..

 I slowly turned around while closing my eyes, what if it's a ghost?!

 When I came face to face I slowly opened my eyes after that a creature with blue eyes appeared in my eyes.

  How did a wolf get here?!

 I was about to scream when he showed the fang in his mouth. My body trembled while looking only at his eyes but suddenly I frowned when I realized something. His eyes twinkled, it seemed like I knew this creature. He feel familiar.

 "Ga-Gavin?"